The Dutch Grammar Forum

Would you like to publish your own sound files? As a Dutch native speaker, you can create sound files to help Dutch learners. If you are studying Dutch, you can record your voice to practice your pronunciation -- and ideally, let the rest of us enjoy it too.

SOUND: Crackling of a great wood fire.
MANIAC (An unearthly, hysterical laugh): Ahhhhhhhhheeeeeahhhh!MUSIC: Eerie theme, full for 30 seconds; then under.
SOUND: Doorbell. Then, door opening.
MRS. FAIRFAX: How do you do, my dear? You must be Miss Eyre, the new governess. Won't you come in?SOUND: Door closing.
JANE (A young, wholesome girl): You're Mrs. Fairfax, I suppose.MRS. FAIRFAX: Yes, Won't you sit down?JANE: Thank you.MRS FAIRFAX: My, but you're young! I'd no idea that Adele's governess would be a mere girl! Not that I underestimate your abilities--I'm sure you're very capable.JANE: Shall I have the pleasure of meeting Miss Fairfax tonight?MRS FAIRFAX: Miss Fairfax? Oh, you mean Miss Varens! Varens is the name of your future pupil.JANE: Indeed! Then she is not your daughter?MRS FAIRFAX: No, I should say not! I'm just the housekeeper here at Thornfield. Miss Varens is a French girl--the ward of your new master, Mr. Rochester.JANE: Mr. Rochester? Pray, tell me what he is like. This is my first position, and I'm not familiar with the personalities of elderly genlemen.MRS FAIRFAX: Oh, Mr. Rochester isn't elderly--though at time he is more irritable than a man of ninety. I'm sure that if you perform your services well and quitely, you'll have no fear of displeasing him.MANIAC (Far off mike; the wild laugh): Aahhhhhhh-hhheeeeaahhhh!JANE (Startled): Good heavens! Did you hear that loud laugh? Who is it?MRS FAIRFAX (Reassuringly): Some of the servants, very likely; perhaps Grace Poole.JANE (Still frightened): Did you hear it!MRS FAIRFAX: Yes, plainly; I often hear it. She sews in one of the rooms in the north wing.MANIAC: Laughs again, off mike, softer.
MRS FAIRFAX (calling): Grace! Grace! (to Jane): That ought to bring her down. She's often this way when she's had an extra bit of porter.SOUND: Door.
GRACE (A heavy, Cockney voice): Did you call me, Mum?MRS FAIRFAX (Admonishingly): Too much noise, Grace. Remember directions!GRACE (Sullenly): Yes, Mum.SOUND: Door closes.
MRS FAIRFAX: She's a person we have to sew and assist the other maids in their housework: not altogether unobjectionable in some points, but she does well enough. Along with Mr. John, the stablemaster, and his wife, they make up the entire household. As for the master, you'll meet him tomorrow evening.JANE: I'm looking forward to it.MRS FAIRFAX: Only a word of friendly warning: if I were in your position, I would try to have as little as possible to do with Grace Poole.MUSIC: Ominous theme, in under.

I'd call that act one. We need to translate.

After act two, that will complete the first 1/3. There are 5 parts. The maniac has 3 lines, but all she does is laugh, so it is not a true speaking part. Mrs. Fairfax has 15 lines, Jane has 21 lines, Grace has 2 lines. Mr. Rochester has 14 lines.

MRS FAIRFAX: Oh, Mr. Rochester isn't elderly--though at time he is more irritable than a man of ninety. I'm sure that if you perform your services well and quitely, you'll have no fear of displeasing him.

MRS FAIRFAX: Yes, plainly; I often hear it. She sews in one of the rooms in the north wing.
MEVR. FAIRFAX: Ja, luid en duidelijk. Ik hoor het vaak. Ze naait kleren in een van de kamers in de noordvleugel.

MRS FAIRFAX: She's a person we have to sew and assist the other maids in their housework: not altogether unobjectionable in some points, but she does well enough. Along with Mr. John, the stablemaster, and his wife, they make up the entire household. As for the master, you'll meet him tomorrow evening.

MRS FAIRFAX: Now I'll have one of the girls come to show you to your room-- you must be tired. As this is your first day, you'll be served dinner in your room. I'll tell you all about your tasks in the morning.

MRS FAIRFAX: Only a word of friendly warning: if I were in your position, I would try to have as little as possible to do with Grace Poole.
MEVR. FAIRFAX: Ik wil u wel graag waarschuwen. Als ik u was, zou ik Grace Poole zoveel mogelijk vermijden.

I cannot wait to be Grace Poole. I think I have the best two lines in the whole play! I would of course love to do an accent, I would love to try Antwerps, do we have anybody from there on the forum who could perhaps spell out the words phoenetically so I could pronounce them correctly with the accent? I do not want to do it by listening to somebody actually saying the words, I just would like to read a phoenetic spelling of how to say it, no phoenetic symbols please as I cannot read those, but just typing out how it sounds if that is possible?
This would be so cool since if I am the presentatrice I will have two different voices, my normal one, and then a cool Antwerps accent for Grace Poole.
Groetjes,
Grace Poole
P.S. The reason I do not want to hear somebody speaking my lines for me is this would spoil the fun of trying to get it right.

I missed two lines. I put them in bold with the lines before and after to show where they go.

JANE: I'm looking forward to it.

MRS FAIRFAX: Now I'll have one of the girls come to show you to your room-- you must be tired. As this is your first day, you'll be served dinner in your room. I'll tell you all about your tasks in the morning.

JANE: Will there be anything else?

MRS FAIRFAX: Only a word of friendly warning:...

Also, the description for Mrs. Fairfax was supposed to be "Elderly and kind."

ROCHESTER (A stern, manly voice): Ah, the new governess for Adele. Let Miss Eyre be seated. (After a slight pause) That will be all, Mrs. Fairfax. I'll call you when I want you.

MRS FAIRFAX: Yes, sir.

SOUND: door closing

ROCHESTER: Turn your face to the fire, Miss Eyre, that I may have a better look at you. There, that's better. Now then: you've come from--

JANE: From Lowood School, sir, in Westshire.

ROCHESTER: Ah, an orphan asylum. How long were you there?

JANE: Eight years.

ROCHESTER: Eight! No wonder you have rather the look of another world! No parents, nor home?

JANE: No, none.

ROCHESTER: Who recommended you to Thornfield?

JANE: I advertised, and Mrs. Fairfax answered my advertisement.

ROCHESTER: Tell me about your background: have you known may people? Do you read much?

JANE: The only society I know are those few outsiders that ever visited the orphanage. As for reading, I'm familiar only with such books as come my way; and they weren't very numerous, I'm afraid, nor very learned.

ROCHESTER: Mrs. Fairfax showed me some sketches you had done--with the aid of an instructor, no doubt.

JANE (indignant): No, indeed, sir!

ROCHESTER (smiling): Ah, that pricks your pride. Where did you get your copies?

JANE: Out of my head, sir.

ROCHESTER: Has it other furniture of the same kind within?

JANE: I should think it may have: I should hope--better!

SOUND: clock strikes nine during the new few speeches.

ROCHESTER: Were you happy while painting the pictures?

JANE: I was absorbed, sir: yes, and I was happy. To paint them was to enjoy one of the keenest pleasures I have ever known.

Dora wrote:I missed two lines. I put them in bold with the lines before and after to show where they go.

JANE: I'm looking forward to it.

MRS FAIRFAX: Now I'll have one of the girls come to show you to your room-- you must be tired. As this is your first day, you'll be served dinner in your room. I'll tell you all about your tasks in the morning.

JANE: Will there be anything else?

MRS FAIRFAX: Only a word of friendly warning:...

Also, the description for Mrs. Fairfax was supposed to be "Elderly and kind."

ROCHESTER: Were you happy while painting the pictures?
ROCHESTER: Was u gelukkig terwijl u de tekeningen schilderde? (what will it be, paintings or drawings? oh well...)

JANE: I was absorbed, sir: yes, and I was happy. To paint them was to enjoy one of the keenest pleasures I have ever known.
JANE: Ik ging er helemaal in op, meneer, ja, en ik was gelukkig. Die tekeningen maken was een van de aangenaamste dingen die ik ooit gedaan heb.

There's a rough version for you, Dora, I'm sure the others can polish it further here and there. Some of my translations are rather too formal, I think, and wouldn't really be used in spoken converation...